Bowling game pin elevating and ball returning apparatus



Sept. 12, 1961 c. J. UTLEY 2,999,691

BOWLING GAME PIN ELEVATING AND BALL RETURNING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 INVENTOR.

p 12, 1951 c. J. UTLEY 2,999,691

BOWLING GAME PIN ELEVATING AND BALL RETURNING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

C/ /AA 55 c/ 4 7:4 5 sf p 1961 c. J. UTLEY 2,999,691

BOWLING GAME PIN ELEVATING AND BALL RETURNING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1959 s Sheefs-Sheet 3 FIG. 6. /4'

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INVENTOR. a/vweA 5 a (/TLEV,

4 TTOE/VE 5 5 United States This invention relates to pin setting and ball return mechanism for bowling alleys, and more particularly to an apparatus adapted to be operated from the bowlers position to reset pins knocked down and to return bowling balls to the bowlers position.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved pin setting and ball return mechanism for bowling alleys, the mechanism being simple in construc tion, being easy to operate, and supporting the bowling pins for movement closely simulating the action of standard bowling pins when hit by a bowling ball.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved pin setting and ball return mechanism for a bowling alley, said mechanism involving inexpensive components, being durable in construction, and being arranged to be operated from the bowlers position by simple actions, whereby a bowler may reset any or all of the pins knocked down by pulling a first flexible cable element and may return bowling balls to the bowlers position by pulling a second flexible cable element, thus enabling a bowler to proceed with a game without necessitating the assistance of a person to reset the pins or return the bowling balls employed in the game.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-1 of FIGURE 2 and showing a bowling game apparatus according to the present invention installed in the rear portion of a bowling alley.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical longitudinal cross sectional view taken through the rear portion of a bowling alley provided with an apparatus according to the present invention, said view being taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FiGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of'FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates a bowling alley which is provided at one side margin thereof With a ball return trough 1 2 and at the other side margin with the vertical upstanding longitudinal wall 13. The alley also includes the transversely extending vertical rear wall 14 extending from the rear end. of the longitudinal side wall 13 to the side edge of the alley along which the return trough 12 is positioned.

Designated at 15 is a horizontal supporting plate which is rigidly secured to the top edge of the rear wall 14 and to the inside surface of the side wall 13, the plate member 15 being of substantial size and extending across the entire width of the alley 11, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. The plate member 15 is substantially rectangular in shape and is of sufiicient area to overlie the rear portion of the alley on which the bowling pins associated therewith. are normally positioned. The plate member I5 is located at a height sufiicient toprovide ample clearance for such bowling pins and to allow such pins to move freely therebeneath.

atent ine Secured to the horizontal supporting plate 15 and depending therefrom in a generally triangular configuration corresponding to the usual triangular configuration employed for bowling pins are the bowling pin assemblies 16, each bowling pin assembly comprising a pair of spaced, transversely aligned hanger bars 17, 17 between the lower end portions of which is pivoted a bowling pin 18.

Each hanger bar 17 comprises a pair of downwardly convergent leg elements 19, 19 which are integrally connected at their lower ends by a diamond-shaped loop 20, the leg elements being provided at their top ends with outwardly directed horizontal lug portions 21, 21 which are received in and supported by generally U- shaped clip members 22, 22 engaged through and fastened to the horizontal supporting plate 15. Thus, the diamondshaped loop members 20 are located in parallel vertical planes and are in transverse alignment.

Pivoted to each pair of hanger bars 17, 17 is a generally U-shaped bowling pin carrier 24, the carrier comprising a rigid generally U-shaped frame having the parallel side arms 25, 25 and the bight portion 26 connecting said side arms and formed generally semi-circular in shape to receive the neck portion 27 of the associated bowling pin- 18. A cooperating generally U-shaped clamping member 28 is disposed opposite the U-shaped clamping element 26 and is connected thereto by clamping bolts 29, 29 extending through opposing end lug portions 30, 30 provided on the member 28 and through the transversely extending end portions of the bight element 26, designated at 31, 31 in FIGURE 5. The side arms 25 have enlarged end portions 32 to which are rigidly secured respective outwardly extending, transversely aligned pivot pin elements 33, 33, said pin elements extending loosely through the diamond-shaped loop members 20, 20 and being provided at their outer ends with retaining washers 3'4, 34, spaced a substantial distance from the enlarged inner portions 32 so as to allow free movement of the pin elements 33 in the loop portions 20, both in a vertical direction, since the loop elements 20 are much larger than the diameters of the pin elements, and in horizontal or inclined directions, since the pin elements 33 are much longer than the transverse thicknesses of the loop members 20.

Each bowling pin 18 is provided immediately below its neck portion 27 with. a rigid loop element 35, and connected at its lower end to the loop element is a coiled spring 36 which extends through the associated U-shaped pin carrier 24 and is connected at its top end to an eye loop 36 secured tothe under side of. the horizontal supporting plate 15 at a point located between the associated angle bars 17, 17 and substantially in the same transverse vertical plane as the pivot loops 20, 20.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the radial distance from the loops 35 to the axis of the associated pivot pins 33, 33 is smaller than the radial distance from the axis of the pins 33, 3-3 to the neck portion 27 of the associated bowling pin 18 so that the spring 36 provides a toggle action which normally is effective to support the bowling pin 18 in a substantially upright vertical position, as shown in FIGURE 3, but which is likewise effective to support the bowling pin 18 in a horizontal position, such as that illustrated in dotted view in FIGURE 3, after the loop 35 has been rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG- URE 3, around the transverse axis defined by the pivot pins '33, 33, past a dead centered position. This type of rotation occurs when the bowling pin 18 is struck by a bowling ball, such as the ball 40 illustrated in FIGURE 1", with suflicient force to overcome the normal biasing action of the spring 36, which acts to support the bowling pin 18 in its normal upright position.

The springs 36- are relatively light, so as to allow the bowling pin to move relatively freely when struck by a bowling ball or by any of the other bowling pins, so as to allow the pins to simulate their normal reactions to being struck by a bowling ball or other bowling pin.

Connected to the top ends of the respective bowling pins 18 are flexible cable elements 41 which extend slidably through respective apertures 42 formed in the horizontal supporting plate 15 at points located rearwardly of the positions normally assumed by the top ends of the pins, namely, when the pins are in their upright positions, such as the position illustrated in FIGURE 3. It will be noted that the apertures 42 are likewise located rearwardly of the positions assumed by the top ends of the bowling pins 18 when the pins are horizontal, whereby the pins may be rotated toward their normal vertical positions by exerting tension on the flexible cable members 41.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the respective flexible cable members 41 extend over a transversely arranged flanged supporting roller 45 journaled transversely at a position located above and adjacent the forward edge of the supporting plate 15. Thus, the flanged supporting roller 45 may be rotatably mounted on a suitable upstanding bracket 47 secured to the forward marginal portion of the supporting plate 15.

The ends of the respective flexible cable members 41 are connected at 48 to a common control cable 44 which extends to the forward portion of the bowling alley 11 to a position adjacent the bowlers position, whereby the bowler may manually actuate the cable 44 to return the pins 18 to vertical positions after they have been struck by a bowling ball, whereby the pins may be reset to their normal vertical positions illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. Thus, in their normal positions, the pins are arranged in the generally triangular array commonly employed for bowling.

As above mentioned, the suspension means provided for the bowling pins 18 provides a substantial amount of free movement of the pins when the pins are struck by a bowling ball or by each other, suflicient movement being allowed so that a pin may swing sufliciently to strike its adjacent pin under certain circumstances. The toggle springs 36 are sufficiently yieldable to allow the pins to be readily rotated from their normal vertical positions to horizontal positions, such as the position illustrated in dotted view in FIGURE 3, in response to the impact of a bowling ball or of an adjacent bowling pin. To reset the pins to their normal vertical positions, it is merely necessary for the bowler to exert tension on the main pin resetting flexible control cable 44.

Designated at 51 is a ball-receiving member which is generally O-shaped in transverse cross section and which is disposed transversely across the rear end portion of the bowling alley 11 adjacent to the rear wall 14, being received in a transverse recess 52 provided in the bowling alley floor adjacent said rear wall 14. The transverse receiving member 51 is rigidly connected in communication with a ball guiding channel 53 arranged in longitudinal alignment with the ball return channel 12 and loosely hinged thereto at 55 so as to be in communication therewith but so as to be rotatable not only around the transverse horizontal axis of the hinge 55 but also to a certain extent around a longitudinal axis, whereby to allow the transverse ball-receiving member 51 to be tilted suflicient- 1y from a horizontal position to cause bowling balls 40 received therein to gravitate toward the ball guiding channel 53. A pair of flexible cables 57 and 58 are connected respectively to the outer end and the inner end portions ofthe top wall 59 of the C-shaped ball receiver 51, for example, at respective connection loops 60 and 61 provided on said top wall. The cables 57 and 58 extend over respective flanged guide rollers 62 and 63 rotatably mounted on a transverse shaft 46 secured to the top marginal portion of the side wall 13 and located over the rear portion of the horizontal supporting plate 15, as shown in FIGURE 7. The flexible cable members 57 and 58 extend slidably through respective apertures 64 and 65 provided therefor in the horizontal supporting plate 15.

The flexible cable members 57 and 58 are connected to a common ball return control cable 70 extending forwardly to the bowlers position at the forward end of the bowling alley, whereby a bowler may exert tension thereon to cause the balls received in the receiving member 51 to be returned. As shown in FIGURE 6, the flexible cable element 58 is relatively loose as compared with the flexible cable element 57, whereby a stronger pull is exerted on the end of the transverse ball-receiving member 51 adjacent the wall 13 than the end thereof adjacent the guide channel 53. This causes the left end of the ball-receiving member 51 to be tilted upwardly with respect to its opposite end, as shown in dotted view in FIGURE 6, responsive to tension exerted on the common control cable member 70, whereby balls contained in the receiver 51 will gravitate toward the guide channel 53. The guide channel 53 is likewise rotated upwardly around the hinge 55, whereby the balls received therein will gravitate towards the ball return channel 12..

The ball-receiving member 51 is provided with a cushioning lining member 71 of suitable resilient deformable material disposed forwardly adjacent its rear wall to cushion the impact of balls received in the receiving member 51. The front margin of the bottom wall of the receiver 51 is provided with the upstanding upwardly and inwardly beveled ball-retaining rib 73 which prevents return of the ball into the bowling alley after the balls have been received in the member 51. A depending yieldable retaining strip 74 is likewise provided at the front edge of the top wall of the receiver 51, said retaining strip also acting both as a shock-absorbing means to cushion the impact of balls entering the receiver 51, and as a retaining means to prevent the balls from bouncing forwardly out of the receiver after they have engaged the resilient deformable cushioning wall element 71.

' As above mentioned, after a bowler has propelled a bowling ball 40 toward the pins 18 and has caused some or all of the pins to be rotated to their horizontal positions, he may reset the pins by exerting tension on the pin resetting control cable 44. He may also cause the bowling ball to be returned by exerting tension on the ball return control cable 70, which causes the receiver 51 to be elevated and tilted laterally and the channel member 53 to be tilted around a transverse axis, whereby a bowling ball received in the member 51 will be caused to gravitate from the transverse receiver 51 to the guide channel 53 and thence downwardly and forwardly to the ball return channel 12.

While a specific embodiment of an improved pin resetting and ball return apparatus for a bowling alley has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bowling game apparatus, an alley, a horizontal support mounted at the end of the alley and being spaced sufliciently above the alley to receive bowling pins in upright positions therebeneath, a plurality of depending bowling pin assemblies secured to said support and being arranged in a generally triangular array, each bowling pin assembly comprising a pair of spaced transversely aligned hanger bars, a generally U-shaped bowling pin carrier, respective enlarged pivot eyes on the lower end portions of the hanger bars, pivot pins on the ends of the respective side arms of the pin carrier loosely engaged in said pivot eyes and being movable vertically and horizontally therein, allowing a substantial amount of free spoons-r motion of the pivot pins, anormally Vertical bowling pin rigidly secured at its neck portion to the bight portion of the pin carrier, a toggle spring connecting a point on the bowling pin normally subjacent its neck portion to a point on said horizontal support located above and between said hanger bars, whereby said spring at times supports the bowling pin in a substantially horizontal position, said support being formed above the pins with respective apertures located rearwardly of the positions assumed by the top ends of the pins when the pinsare horizontal and flexible cable means connected to the top ends of the bowling pins and extending slidably through the respective apertures and extending forwardly therefrom, whereby the pins may be simultaneously returned to vertical positions by exerting tension simultaneously on said flexible cable means.

2. In a bowling game apparatus, an alley, a horizontal support mounted at the end of the alley and being spaced sufficiently above the alley to receive bowling pins in upright positions therebeneath, aplurality of depending bowling pin assemblies secured to said support and being arranged in a generally triangular array, each bowling pin assembly comprising a pair of spaced transversely aligned hanger bars, a generally U-shaped bowling pin carrier, respective enlarged pivot eyes on the lower end portions of the hanger bars, pivot pins on the ends of the respective side arms of the pin carrier loosely engaged in said pivot eyes and being movable vertically and horizontally therein, allowing a substantial amount of free motion of the pivot pins, a normally vertical bowling pin rigidly secured at its neck portion to the bight portion of the pin carrier, a toggle spring connecting a point on the bowling pin normally subjacent its neck portion to a point on said horizontal support located above and between said hanger bars, whereby said spring at times supports the bowling pin in a substantially horizontal position, said support being formed above the pins with respective apertures located rearwardly of the positions assumed by the top ends of the pins when the pins are horizontal, flexible cable means connected to the top ends of the bowling pins and extending slidably through the respective apertures and extending forwardly therefrom, whereby the pins may be simultaneously returned to vertical positions by exerting tension simultaneously on said flexible cable means, a ball receiver having a transverse ball receiving portion located behind the bowling pins and a longitudinal channel portion communicating with and extending forwardly from one end of said transverse portion, means hingedly connecting the forward end of said channel portion to a side margin of the alley, and flexible cable means connected to said ball receiver and constructed and arranged to elevate same responsive to tension exerted thereon.

3. In a bowling game apparatus, an alley, a horizontal support mounted at the end of the alley and being spaced sufficiently above the alley to receive bowling pins in upright positions therebeneath, a plurality of depending bowling pin assemblies secured to said support and being arranged in a generally triangular array, each bowling pin assembly comprising a pair of spaced transversely aligned hanger bars, a generally U-shaped bowling pin carrier, said hanger bars being provided with enlarged eye members at their bottom ends, pivot elements on the ends of the respective side arms of the pin carrier loosely engaging in said eye members and pivotally connecting the ends of the respective side arms of the pin carrier to the lower end portions of the hanger bars, said eye members being sufficiently large to allow a substantial amount of free motion of the pivot elements, a normally vertical bowling pin rigidly secured at its neck portion to the bight portion of the pin carrier, a toggle spring connecting a point on the bowling pin normally subjacent its neck portion to a point on said horizontal support located above and between said hanger bars, whereby said spring at times supports the bowling pin in a substantially horizontal position, said support being formed above the pins with respective apertures located rearwardly of the positions assumed by the top ends of the pins when the pins are horizontal, and flexible cable means connected to the: top ends of the bowling pins and extending slidably through the respective apertures and extending forwardly therefrom, whereby the pins may be simultaneously returned to vertical positions by exerting tension simultaneously on said flexible cable means.

4. In a bowling game apparatus, an alley, a horizontal support mounted at the end of the alley and being spaced sufliciently above the alley to receive bowling pins in upright positions therebeneath, a plurality of depending pin assemblies secured to'said support and being arranged in a generally triangular array, each bowling pin assembly comprising a pair of spaced transversely aligned hanger bars; a generally U-shaped bowling pin carrier, said hanger bars being provided with enlarged generally diamond-shaped eye members at their bottom ends, trans versely aligned pivot" shaft elements on the ends of the respective side arms of the pin carrier loosely engaging in said eye members and pivotally connecting the ends of the respective side arms ofthe pin carrier to the lower end portions of the hanger bars, said eye members being sufliciently large to allow a substantial amount of free motion of the pivot elements, a normally vertical bowling pin rigidly secured at its neck portion to the bight portion of the pin carrier, a toggle spring connecting a point on the bowling pin normally subjacent its neck portion to a point on said horizontal support located above and between said hanger bars, whereby said spring at times supports the bowling pin in a substantially horizontal position, said support being formed above the pins with respective apertures located rearwardly of the positions assumed by the top ends of the pins when the pins are horizontal, and flexible cable means connected to the top ends of the bowling pins and extending slidably through the respective apertures and extending forwardly therefrom, whereby the pins may be simultaneously returned to vertical positions by exerting tension simultaneously on said flexible cable means.

5. In a bowling game apparatus, an alley, a horizontal support mounted at the end of the alley and being spaced sufficiently above the alley to receive bowling pins in upright positions therebeneath, a plurality of depending bowling pin assemblies secured to said support and being arranged in a generally triangular array, each bowlingpin assembly comprising a pair of spaced transversely aligned hanger bars, a generally U-shaped bowling pin carrier, said hanger bars being provided with enlarged generally diamond-shaped eye members at their bottom ends, a bowling pin, means on the bight portion of the pin carrier clampingly engaging the neck of the bowling pin, pivot elements on the ends of the respective side arms of the pin carrier loosely engaging in said eye members and pivotally connecting the ends of the respective side arms of the pin carrier to the lower end portions of the hanger bars, said eye members being sufliciently large to allow a substantial amount of free motion of the pivot elements, a toggle spring connecting a point on the bowling pin normally su-bjacent its neck portion to a point on said horizontal support located above and between said hanger bars, whereby said spring normally supports the bowling pin in a substantially vertical position and at times supports the spring in a substantially horizontal position, said support being formed above the pins with respective apertures located rearwardly of the positions assumed by the top ends of the pins when the pins are horizontal, and flexible cable means connected to the top ends of the bowling pins and extending slidably through the respective apertures and extending forwardly therefrom, whereby the pins may be simultaneously returned to vertical positions by exerting tension simultaneously on said flexible cable means.

6. In a bowling game apparatus, an alley, a horizontal support mounted at the end of the alley and beingspaced sufliciently above the alley to receive bowling pins in upright positions therebeneath, a plurality of depending bowling pin assemblies secured to said support and being arranged in a generally triangular array, each bowling pin assembly comprising a pair of spaced transversely aligned hanger bars, a generally J-shaped bowling pin carrier, said hanger bars being provided with enlarged generally diamond-shaped eye members at their bottom ends, transversely aligned pivot shaft elements on the ends of the respective side arms of the pin carrier loosely engaging in said eye members and pivotally connecting the ends of the respective side arms of the pin carrier to the lower end portions of the hanger bars, said eye members being sufficiently large to allow a substantial amount of free motion of the pivot elements, a bowling pin, means on the bight portion of the pin carrier clampingly engaging the neck of the bowling pin, a toggle spring connecting a point on the bowling pin normally subjacent its neck portion to a point on said horizontal support located above and between said hanger bars, whereby said spring normally supports the bowling pin in a substantially vertical position and at times supports the pin in a substantially horizontal position, said support being formed above the pins with respective apertures located rearwardly of the positions assumed by the top ends of the pins when the pins are horizontal, flexible cable means connected to the top ends of the bowling pins and extending slidably through the respective apertures and extending forwardly therefrom, whereby the pins may be simultaneously returned to vertical positions by exerting tension simultaneously on said flexible cable means, a ball. receiverhaving a transverse ball-receiving portion located behind the bowling pins and a longitudinal'channel portion communicating with and extending forwardly from one end of said transverse portion, means hingedly connecting the forward end of said channel portion to a side margin of the alley, and flexible cable means connected to said ball receiver and being constnucted and arranged to elevate same responsive to tension exerted thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

